Elkanah (Hebrew:אֱלְקָנָה) (meaning: God has purchased) was, according to the Books of Samuel, the husband of Hannah, and the father of her children including her first, Samuel. Elkanah is a bigamist, his other wife, less favoured but bearing more children, was named Peninnah. The names of Elkanah's other children apart from Samuel are not given. Elkanah plays only a minor role in the narrative, and is mostly a supporting character to Eli, Hannah, and Samuel. The Talmud lists him as a prophet, along with his wife and son.